EMORY, Va. – When you are as talented on the gridiron as Thomas Walker High School’s Cody Cain, expectations can be pretty high.
Like when each time you touch the football, fans are expecting you to find the end zone.
Pressure for some, fun for others.
“I love it,” Cain said.
Cain rushed for two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion in Thomas Walker’s 24-0 victory over Holston on Friday night during the Bank of Marion Kickoff Classic jamboree at Patrick Henry High School.
Cain failed to score in TW’s second contest as the Pioneers battled Northwood to a scoreless tie.
“I was a little winded there at the end,” Cain said.
That’s usually the sentiment of Thomas Walker opponents as they try to catch Cain, one of the fastest athletes in the area. The 5-foot-10 junior with hair that resembles that of Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Troy Polamalu was the Region D champion in the 200- and 400-meter dashes back in the spring.
He hopes to put up some victories on the football field this fall.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Cain said. “We’ve got a good backfield and a pretty good line.”
The trio of Cain, Jared Brewer and Brandon Moore combined to rush for more than 2,000 yards last season.
“They make us go,” TW coach Brian Lee said of the trio. “They’re good backs.”
Another Cumberland District team, Rye Cove, showcased a solid rushing attack as the Eagles posted a 13-0 triumph over Patrick Henry and suffered a 21-6 setback to Marion.
The Eagles rushed for 149 yards against PH as Jon Hill and Silas Bush scored rushing TDs. Meanwhile, the defense limited PH to just one first down.
Rye Cove struggled to a 2-8 record a year ago, but head coach Tom Callaway’s team has made some major strides.
“We’re better,” Callaway said. “A lot of guys matured and so forth. We have a long ways to go as far as what I want from them. But we’re coming. We’re getting better.”
There are 13 seniors on the Rye Cove roster, including quarterback Chase Rollins.
“We have a new attitude,” Rollins said. “We have more seniors and more leadership. All our backfield is back and we’ve got a really good line. We have good leaders on the line like Issac Hammonds and Sammy Ervin. We’ve got the chemistry.”
Rye Cove also relies on an old-school run-based approach.
“That’s just our basic Rye Cove football – traps, whams and dives,” Rollins said.
Rollins tossed a touchdown pass to Bush in the loss to Marion. The Rye Cove defense struggled against a quick Marion offense led by quarterback Marshall Wagner. Wagner threw a TD pass to Colin Gullion and also rushed for a score, while Ethan Richardson scored on a 34-yard scamper against the Eagles.
Castlewood competed in Friday’s seven-team event as well.
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18.8.11
Eagles safety Allen has rough showing in defeat
PITTSBURGH -- Nate Allen had two excuses at his disposal Thursday night. The Eagles free safety chose to use neither.
Allen had a rough night and so did the rest of his teammates as the Pittsburgh Steelers rolled to a 24-point lead in beating the Eagles 24-14 in a preseason game at Heinz Field.
The Steelers drove 14 plays for touchdowns in each of their two possessions, going a combined 176 yards against a new and improved "Dream Team" defense that added cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, end Jason Babin and tackle Cullen Jenkins in free agency.
Allen made pivotal mistakes on both drives but didn't hide from them.
"I didn't execute very well," Allen said. "The defense as a whole didn't execute well."
Allen is coming off knee surgery that cut his rookie season short by three games last year. Furthermore, he and free safety Kurt Coleman are adjusting to new defensive coordinator Luis Castillo asking the safeties to provide more run support than predecessor Sean McDermott.
However, Allen said the knee was not a factor despite a greatly increased workload. He played into the fourth quarter on Thursday after being on the field sparingly in the Eagles' preseason opener against Baltimore a week earlier.
"It was a really good test for the knee, to be able to get out there and play for a long time," Allen said. "It feels fine. There is a little soreness there, which is to be expected, but no pain. I don't think it's an issue anymore."
Playing closer to the line, though, is still a learning experience for Allen and he struggled mightily during the first two drives.
Allen's problems started on the third play of the game when tight end Heath Miller got past him and caught an 11-yard pass for a first down on third-and-1. Later in the drive, Allen got beat again on a third-and-8 play when wide receiver Arnaz Battle took a short pass over the middle from Roethlisberger and turned it into an 18-yard gain.
Allen's third-down problems continued on the final play when he was tentative on a blitz and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took advantage by throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown, who got wide open against Asante Samuel.
Allen blitzed from the left side and cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie came
charging from the right. Running back Rashard Mendenhall blocked Rodgers-Cromartie, at which point Allen stopped and jumped instead of continuing into the backfield. That gave Roethlisberger plenty of time to loft the ball to Brown.
The second drive provided even more third-down trouble for Allen. He and SAM linebacker Jamar Chaney blitzed on a third-and-4 play, but Roethlisberger made a quick release and hit running back Mewelde Moore for a 23-yard gain to the Eagles' 12.
Three plays later, Allen got turned around as veteran wide receiver Hines Ward ran past him and hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 11:02 left in the first half.
"It was a good test for me and the entire defense in facing the Steelers," Allen said. "They've got a great team. They went to the Super Bowl last season and they've got a lot of weapons on their offense. We didn't play well against them, but the important thing is to learn from it and get ready for the regular season. We've got two more games to get ready and I think we're going to be just fine."
Allen had a rough night and so did the rest of his teammates as the Pittsburgh Steelers rolled to a 24-point lead in beating the Eagles 24-14 in a preseason game at Heinz Field.
The Steelers drove 14 plays for touchdowns in each of their two possessions, going a combined 176 yards against a new and improved "Dream Team" defense that added cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, end Jason Babin and tackle Cullen Jenkins in free agency.
Allen made pivotal mistakes on both drives but didn't hide from them.
"I didn't execute very well," Allen said. "The defense as a whole didn't execute well."
Allen is coming off knee surgery that cut his rookie season short by three games last year. Furthermore, he and free safety Kurt Coleman are adjusting to new defensive coordinator Luis Castillo asking the safeties to provide more run support than predecessor Sean McDermott.
However, Allen said the knee was not a factor despite a greatly increased workload. He played into the fourth quarter on Thursday after being on the field sparingly in the Eagles' preseason opener against Baltimore a week earlier.
"It was a really good test for the knee, to be able to get out there and play for a long time," Allen said. "It feels fine. There is a little soreness there, which is to be expected, but no pain. I don't think it's an issue anymore."
Playing closer to the line, though, is still a learning experience for Allen and he struggled mightily during the first two drives.
Allen's problems started on the third play of the game when tight end Heath Miller got past him and caught an 11-yard pass for a first down on third-and-1. Later in the drive, Allen got beat again on a third-and-8 play when wide receiver Arnaz Battle took a short pass over the middle from Roethlisberger and turned it into an 18-yard gain.
Allen's third-down problems continued on the final play when he was tentative on a blitz and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took advantage by throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown, who got wide open against Asante Samuel.
Allen blitzed from the left side and cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie came
charging from the right. Running back Rashard Mendenhall blocked Rodgers-Cromartie, at which point Allen stopped and jumped instead of continuing into the backfield. That gave Roethlisberger plenty of time to loft the ball to Brown.
The second drive provided even more third-down trouble for Allen. He and SAM linebacker Jamar Chaney blitzed on a third-and-4 play, but Roethlisberger made a quick release and hit running back Mewelde Moore for a 23-yard gain to the Eagles' 12.
Three plays later, Allen got turned around as veteran wide receiver Hines Ward ran past him and hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 11:02 left in the first half.
"It was a good test for me and the entire defense in facing the Steelers," Allen said. "They've got a great team. They went to the Super Bowl last season and they've got a lot of weapons on their offense. We didn't play well against them, but the important thing is to learn from it and get ready for the regular season. We've got two more games to get ready and I think we're going to be just fine."
17.8.11
10 Things To Watch During Steelers-Eagles Preseason Week 2 Matchup
Being a Steelers fan who hails from Philadelphia can be quite tiresome. Often times, I am subject to hearing from some random drunken person how the Eagles are the best franchise ever. The thing that gets me is this is usually provoked by something as simple as me wearing my Troy Polamalu jersey.
Even with my dislike for the way some random Eagles fans conduct themselves I do secretly like the Eagles. And the reality is I know some Eagles fans that are AMAZING fans such as my cousin Grant or my friend Ashley.
I’ve seen 90 percent of every snap of every Eagles games since I moved back to Philadelphia in 2001. The 10 percent are the ones in which I only had one television available, and by the grace of God, CBS3 or FOX29 decided to actually air a Steelers game.
Even more so, my family members are Eagles fans and my fiancée is an Eagles fan. Therefore, I have no issues secretly cheering for the Eagles—in the event that they are not playing the Steelers.
Therefore I like to consider myself pretty well-versed on both teams, although I will admit my thorough understanding of the birds is dwindling as I move further and further from Philly.
That said, as the Steelers and Eagles only play a meaningful regular season game once every four years, they often find themselves playing one another in the preseason. In fact, they have met every preseason since 2000 except for 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
Therefore despite the fact that I’m not the type of fan to cheer loudly during preseason games, I am very excited for this one and have decided to do a write up for the game.
Even with my dislike for the way some random Eagles fans conduct themselves I do secretly like the Eagles. And the reality is I know some Eagles fans that are AMAZING fans such as my cousin Grant or my friend Ashley.
I’ve seen 90 percent of every snap of every Eagles games since I moved back to Philadelphia in 2001. The 10 percent are the ones in which I only had one television available, and by the grace of God, CBS3 or FOX29 decided to actually air a Steelers game.
Even more so, my family members are Eagles fans and my fiancée is an Eagles fan. Therefore, I have no issues secretly cheering for the Eagles—in the event that they are not playing the Steelers.
Therefore I like to consider myself pretty well-versed on both teams, although I will admit my thorough understanding of the birds is dwindling as I move further and further from Philly.
That said, as the Steelers and Eagles only play a meaningful regular season game once every four years, they often find themselves playing one another in the preseason. In fact, they have met every preseason since 2000 except for 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
Therefore despite the fact that I’m not the type of fan to cheer loudly during preseason games, I am very excited for this one and have decided to do a write up for the game.
16.8.11
Isaac Redman Making Strong Case For Increased Workload In 2011
He began as one of Steeler Nation's most revered underdogs. Typically those stories fizzle out for whatever reason -- injuries, lack of playing time, the unfortunate reality that they just weren't talented enough to make it in the NFL. For Isaac Redman though, the Rudy story looks like it has real life. Redman again has looked great in training camp, the third straight year that he's looked explosive and impressive at Latrobe. And like he did in '09 and '10, Redman carried it from the practice field to the preseason. Once called the most interesting man in the world, part Dos Equis guy and part Chuck Norris, Redman scored the Steelers lone touchdown in last Friday's loss to the Washington Redskins, a 22-yard score that showed off his quickness and strength.
On Tuesday, before the team was set to close down shop at Latrobe with a team softball game, Redman took a few minutes for an interview on The Fan. I've transcribed most of it for those of you without audio at your disposal.
On looking more comfortable this year compared to last:
"Yeah I'm feeling a lot more comfortable, even from last year. Last year I felt pretty good at camp; this year the game is just slowing down a lot for me."
On the design of the play that he took 22 yards for a score in last Friday night's preseason opener:
"Yeah that's pretty much my favorite play. I love those zone-runs and be able to read to read the defense, be able to cut-back, be able to set my blocks up. You know, that's where I'm pretty good: being able to set my blocks up and reading the zone."
On how much of a difference there's been between each of his first three training camps in terms of his comfort level:
Star-divide
"Well my first year, coming in I was pretty much like a chicken with his head cut off just trying to fit somewhere in and mostly worrying about special teams, where last year I felt like I had a good shot at making the team, to where as now I can strictly focus on football knowing that I'm here where I have a spot on this team and can now just focus on my game and get better as a running back."
What aspect of his game does he feel needs the most improvement at this stage in his development:
"Pretty much I would like to be able to read the defense a lot more. I'm pretty good at understanding where the blitz comes from, but you can always get better at that. You know, understanding when the safeties are coming down, understanding rotations and stuff like that."
Does he feel like he's ready to be trusted with more regular carries in relief of Rashard Mendenhall:
"Yeah most definitely. He had a lot of carries last year. Like I said before, just this preseason I want the coaches just to turn the film on, look at me run and say 'we need to get this guy the ball' or 'this guy's capable of letting us spell Mendenhall a little more than we did last year.' So hopefully after the last preseason game, I hope that I have that impression on these coaches."
On Tuesday, before the team was set to close down shop at Latrobe with a team softball game, Redman took a few minutes for an interview on The Fan. I've transcribed most of it for those of you without audio at your disposal.
On looking more comfortable this year compared to last:
"Yeah I'm feeling a lot more comfortable, even from last year. Last year I felt pretty good at camp; this year the game is just slowing down a lot for me."
On the design of the play that he took 22 yards for a score in last Friday night's preseason opener:
"Yeah that's pretty much my favorite play. I love those zone-runs and be able to read to read the defense, be able to cut-back, be able to set my blocks up. You know, that's where I'm pretty good: being able to set my blocks up and reading the zone."
On how much of a difference there's been between each of his first three training camps in terms of his comfort level:
Star-divide
"Well my first year, coming in I was pretty much like a chicken with his head cut off just trying to fit somewhere in and mostly worrying about special teams, where last year I felt like I had a good shot at making the team, to where as now I can strictly focus on football knowing that I'm here where I have a spot on this team and can now just focus on my game and get better as a running back."
What aspect of his game does he feel needs the most improvement at this stage in his development:
"Pretty much I would like to be able to read the defense a lot more. I'm pretty good at understanding where the blitz comes from, but you can always get better at that. You know, understanding when the safeties are coming down, understanding rotations and stuff like that."
Does he feel like he's ready to be trusted with more regular carries in relief of Rashard Mendenhall:
"Yeah most definitely. He had a lot of carries last year. Like I said before, just this preseason I want the coaches just to turn the film on, look at me run and say 'we need to get this guy the ball' or 'this guy's capable of letting us spell Mendenhall a little more than we did last year.' So hopefully after the last preseason game, I hope that I have that impression on these coaches."
15.8.11
Sandy Koufax left lasting mark in year at UC
CINCINNATI -- Sandy Koufax pitched only one season at the University of Cincinnati, but that season launched him to a career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers that earned him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Koufax arrived at UC from Brooklyn, N.Y., in the fall of 1953. He made the freshman basketball team as a walk-on and later earned a partial scholarship, according to Jane Leavy's 2002 biography, "Sandy Koufax, A Lefty's Legacy."
He tried out for coach Ed Jucker's baseball team in the spring of 1954, made the team and went 3-1 with a 2.81 earned run average, 51 strikeouts and 30 walks in 31 innings. He signed with the Dodgers and began his pro career in 1955.
More than a half-century after he pitched at UC, Koufax will be inducted into the school's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 26.
"He was a heck of a basketball player," said Jack Twyman, a member of both UC's Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "I think he was the premier pitcher ever to play baseball."
Joining Koufax in this year's class of inductees are UC's 1961 national championship basketball team, basketball player Jason Maxiell, football kicker Jonathan Ruffin and current swimming coach Monty Hopkins.
It took so long for Koufax to be inducted into UC's Hall of Fame probably because he pitched for the Bearcats for only one year.
"We brought it up for years, and it was always, well, he didn't graduate," said Twyman, a member of the selection committee.
"But it's how he conducted his life, and his life certainly reflected well on the University of Cincinnati."
Koufax was the National League Most Valuable Player in 1963 and was voted the Major League Player of the Decade from 1960-69. He won three consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1963 to 1965.
The 1961 UC basketball team, with a starting five of Tom Thacker, Bob Wiesenhahn, Paul Hogue, Carl Bouldin and Tony Yates, was the first under Jucker as head coach and the first after the graduation of National Player of the Year Oscar Robertson.
The Bearcats started 5-3 but didn't lose again the rest of the season, posting a 27-3 record and beating Ohio State to win the national championship.
Maxiell, who played basketball at UC from 2002-05, ranks 12th on UC's career scoring list with 1,566 points. He also ranks third in career blocked shots with 252.
He was selected in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft by Detroit and still plays for the Pistons.
Ruffin won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in 2000, when he kicked a school-record 26 field goals. His 104 points that season ranked second to Jim O'Brien, who scored 142 at UC in 1968. He made 78.5 percent of his field-goal attempts, which remains a school record. He ranks second on UC's career scoring list with 315 points behind Jake Rogers, who scored 339.
Ruffin's breakout year came during his sophomore season in 2000 after what he described as a freshman year in which "I didn't do very well at all."
Ruffin signed free-agent contracts with the NFL's Steelers and Cowboys and the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats but was cut each time. Most recently he played for New Orleans in the Arena Football League.
Hopkins is about to begin his 23rd season as coach of the UC men's and women's swim teams. Under Hopkins, the Bearcats have won 12 conference championships, with two NCAA champions (Becky Ruehl and Josh Schneider), 17 All-Americans, 14 Academic All-Americans and three Olympians.
Koufax arrived at UC from Brooklyn, N.Y., in the fall of 1953. He made the freshman basketball team as a walk-on and later earned a partial scholarship, according to Jane Leavy's 2002 biography, "Sandy Koufax, A Lefty's Legacy."
He tried out for coach Ed Jucker's baseball team in the spring of 1954, made the team and went 3-1 with a 2.81 earned run average, 51 strikeouts and 30 walks in 31 innings. He signed with the Dodgers and began his pro career in 1955.
More than a half-century after he pitched at UC, Koufax will be inducted into the school's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 26.
"He was a heck of a basketball player," said Jack Twyman, a member of both UC's Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "I think he was the premier pitcher ever to play baseball."
Joining Koufax in this year's class of inductees are UC's 1961 national championship basketball team, basketball player Jason Maxiell, football kicker Jonathan Ruffin and current swimming coach Monty Hopkins.
It took so long for Koufax to be inducted into UC's Hall of Fame probably because he pitched for the Bearcats for only one year.
"We brought it up for years, and it was always, well, he didn't graduate," said Twyman, a member of the selection committee.
"But it's how he conducted his life, and his life certainly reflected well on the University of Cincinnati."
Koufax was the National League Most Valuable Player in 1963 and was voted the Major League Player of the Decade from 1960-69. He won three consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1963 to 1965.
The 1961 UC basketball team, with a starting five of Tom Thacker, Bob Wiesenhahn, Paul Hogue, Carl Bouldin and Tony Yates, was the first under Jucker as head coach and the first after the graduation of National Player of the Year Oscar Robertson.
The Bearcats started 5-3 but didn't lose again the rest of the season, posting a 27-3 record and beating Ohio State to win the national championship.
Maxiell, who played basketball at UC from 2002-05, ranks 12th on UC's career scoring list with 1,566 points. He also ranks third in career blocked shots with 252.
He was selected in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft by Detroit and still plays for the Pistons.
Ruffin won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in 2000, when he kicked a school-record 26 field goals. His 104 points that season ranked second to Jim O'Brien, who scored 142 at UC in 1968. He made 78.5 percent of his field-goal attempts, which remains a school record. He ranks second on UC's career scoring list with 315 points behind Jake Rogers, who scored 339.
Ruffin's breakout year came during his sophomore season in 2000 after what he described as a freshman year in which "I didn't do very well at all."
Ruffin signed free-agent contracts with the NFL's Steelers and Cowboys and the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats but was cut each time. Most recently he played for New Orleans in the Arena Football League.
Hopkins is about to begin his 23rd season as coach of the UC men's and women's swim teams. Under Hopkins, the Bearcats have won 12 conference championships, with two NCAA champions (Becky Ruehl and Josh Schneider), 17 All-Americans, 14 Academic All-Americans and three Olympians.
13.8.11
Steelers, Bengals open 2011 season
The games may not count in the standings until Sept. 8, but many area fans are glad to see NFL players lining up for preseason games.
"I'm just happy to see football on TV," said Patrick Mathis, a 19-year-old Marietta College student from Charlotte, N.C.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals opened their exhibition schedule Friday, while the Cleveland Browns play host to the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
A five-month lockout had some fans, like Mathis, concerned there might not be a season at all or that it might be shorter than the usual 16 games.
Although he hails from North Carolina, Mathis is a Dallas Cowboys fan, just like his father. While the Cowboys have long been considered "America's team," Mid-Ohio Valley residents are more likely to support one of three teams - Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
Barry Taylor, with the local River Rats Browns Backers organization, said the group will gather at the No Idea Sports Lounge in Marietta Saturday to watch the first preseason game.
"It's time to get into the game. We're two months in arrears of getting ready," he said, referring to the lockout's delays.
The Browns will have a new head coach and a young quarterback but Taylor said he thinks they will improve on the 5-11 record they posted the last two years.
"The worst we're going to do, I believe, is 7-9, but I believe we're capable of 9-7," he said.
It's a season of transition for the Cincinnati Bengals too, with the popular and sometimes controversial wide receiver Chad Ochocinco traded to the New England Patriots and quarterback Carson Palmer retired after the team refused to trade him.
"I think we got rid of some headaches (and are) starting with some fresh attitudes," said Denny Dorrel, assistant Marietta College football coach.
The truncated free agent signing and practice period that resulted from the lockout is a cause for concern for Dorrel, especially with so many young players on the team. Still, he said he's optimistic in his prediction for the season - very optimistic.
"Just like every Bengals fan, we're going to win it all," Dorrel said.
Marietta College freshman quarterback Kori Lawrence didn't agree with the coach's forecast for the Bengals but he said he does think the team added a dynamic player in rookie wide receiver A.J. Greene. Lawrence, also from Charlotte, expects his favorite team - the Philadelphia Eagles - to challenge for the league title this year, behind the play of quarterback Michael Vick and some significant free agent additions like cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
"If we don't make the Super Bowl, I'll be pretty upset," Lawrence said.
Watertown resident Dave Combs, 50, said he's confident his Pittsburgh Steelers will do well this season, but added it's hard to make predictions since so many players changed teams in such a short amount of time.
"To be honest, I don't know where all the dust is going to settle," he said. "I just hope the Steelers continue their tradition of being a good football team."
"I'm just happy to see football on TV," said Patrick Mathis, a 19-year-old Marietta College student from Charlotte, N.C.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals opened their exhibition schedule Friday, while the Cleveland Browns play host to the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
A five-month lockout had some fans, like Mathis, concerned there might not be a season at all or that it might be shorter than the usual 16 games.
Although he hails from North Carolina, Mathis is a Dallas Cowboys fan, just like his father. While the Cowboys have long been considered "America's team," Mid-Ohio Valley residents are more likely to support one of three teams - Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
Barry Taylor, with the local River Rats Browns Backers organization, said the group will gather at the No Idea Sports Lounge in Marietta Saturday to watch the first preseason game.
"It's time to get into the game. We're two months in arrears of getting ready," he said, referring to the lockout's delays.
The Browns will have a new head coach and a young quarterback but Taylor said he thinks they will improve on the 5-11 record they posted the last two years.
"The worst we're going to do, I believe, is 7-9, but I believe we're capable of 9-7," he said.
It's a season of transition for the Cincinnati Bengals too, with the popular and sometimes controversial wide receiver Chad Ochocinco traded to the New England Patriots and quarterback Carson Palmer retired after the team refused to trade him.
"I think we got rid of some headaches (and are) starting with some fresh attitudes," said Denny Dorrel, assistant Marietta College football coach.
The truncated free agent signing and practice period that resulted from the lockout is a cause for concern for Dorrel, especially with so many young players on the team. Still, he said he's optimistic in his prediction for the season - very optimistic.
"Just like every Bengals fan, we're going to win it all," Dorrel said.
Marietta College freshman quarterback Kori Lawrence didn't agree with the coach's forecast for the Bengals but he said he does think the team added a dynamic player in rookie wide receiver A.J. Greene. Lawrence, also from Charlotte, expects his favorite team - the Philadelphia Eagles - to challenge for the league title this year, behind the play of quarterback Michael Vick and some significant free agent additions like cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
"If we don't make the Super Bowl, I'll be pretty upset," Lawrence said.
Watertown resident Dave Combs, 50, said he's confident his Pittsburgh Steelers will do well this season, but added it's hard to make predictions since so many players changed teams in such a short amount of time.
"To be honest, I don't know where all the dust is going to settle," he said. "I just hope the Steelers continue their tradition of being a good football team."
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